Medallion display

ABSTRACT

A medallion, coin, or other object is displayed in a block of transparent acrylic by drilling or otherwise forming a hole into the back of the block extending part way through the block, the bottom of the hole providing a flat surface against which one face of the medallion is placed. The back and sides of the block are coated or covered with opaque material. A chamfer around the perimeter of the hole receiving the medallion picks up light reflected off the opaque sidewalls to produce a halo effect around the medallion.

United States Patent 1 Wilson 1 Apr. 15, 1975 1 MEDALLION DISPLAY [76]Inventor: Richard B. Wilson, 630 S.

Rosemead, Pasadena, Calif. 91 107 [22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1974 21] Appl.No.: 434,962

[52] [1.8. Cl. 40/10 D; 40/152.1

[51] Int. Cl. G09f 3/18 [58] Field of Search 40/10 D, 156, 152, 152.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,220,418 3/1917 Hawkes40/156 2,521,558 9/1950 Alvarez 40/152 2,867,053 1/1959 Boor 40/10 D X3,312,197 4/1967 Smith 40/126 R X 3,579,887 5/1971 Rochclt 40/152.1

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerWenccslao J.Contreras Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Christie, Parker & l-lale [57]ABSTRACT A medallion, coin, or other object is displayed in a block oftransparent acrylic by drilling or otherwise forming a hole into theback of the block extending part way through the block, the bottom ofthe hole providing a flat surface against which one face of themedallion is placed. The back and sides of the block are coated orcovered with opaque material. A chamfer around the perimeter of the holereceiving the medallion picks up light reflected off the opaquesidewalls to produce a halo effect around the medallion.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures MEDALLION DISPLAY FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to decorative displays for medallions or thelike. and more particularly, is concerned with a display in which themedallion is mounted within a transparent plastic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various arrangements have been heretoforeproposed to display coins, medallions, or other relatively flat metalobjects to enhance their beauty and interest. One technique which hasbeen used is to cast the coin or medallion in a block of transparentacrylic plastic, such as plexiglass. Plexiglass protects the metal whileat the same time enhancing the decorative effect of the display.However, the casting ofmedallions and the like in plastic requiresconsiderable skill and special equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a displaywhich permits the medallion or other object to be displayed inside atransparent plastic block in a manner which avoids the limitations ofthe casting process. The dis play protects the metal while at the sametime enhancing the beauty of the metal object by creating an illusion ofdepth and highlights.

This is accomplished in brief by boring a block of clear acrylic with arecess slightly larger than the diameter of the medallion being mounted.The bottom of the recess is substantially flat. with the medallion beingpositioned with the face of the medallion against the bottom. An opaquebacking is provided on the block which is used to hold the medallion inplace in the re- CCSS.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of theinvention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing. wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the medallion display device ofthe present invention: and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in the drawing. the display deviceincludes a block of clear acrylic. The block may be ofa variety ofshapes but typically is a rectangular block which may be cut from astandard 4 ft. X 6 ft. sheet of material ofthe desired thickness. Thesides or edges of the block need not be smooth but may retain theroughness incurred by the cutting process, such as sawing, used inmaking the block from a large sheet.

The back surface I2 of the block is then recessed by boring or otherwisecutting a circular flat'bottomed hole or bore 13 extending part waythrough the block. The diameter of the bore 13 is made slightly largerin diameter than the metal, coin, medallion or other object to bedisplayed. The depth of the bore is preferably made approximately halfthe thickness of the block, but may be made to any desired depth,preferably a depth greater than the thickness of the medallion or otherobject to be displayed. The inner edge 16 of thebore 13 is preferablychamfered or beveled adjacent the flat bottom, as indicated at 18, forreasons hereinafter described. The sides and bottom of the bore 13 arepolished by buffering, burnishing, or by firing with a torch to providea transparent interface.

A medallion 19 may be held in place within the bore 13 by providing abacking 20 for the block with a spacer 22 cemented to the backing and tothe back side of the medallion. The backing layer 20 may be held inplace by a frame 24 made of thin, springy metal which is formed with anupper lip 26 and a lower lip 28 that grip the top and bottom of theblock in a clamping action. The frame at the same time holds the backingin place. However, the block may be used as a free standing display, inwhich case the backing layer 20 is cemented or otherwise secured inplace on the block. The backing layer provides an opaque reflective backsurface which may be of any selected color but preferably is a metallicappearing surface which corresponds in color to the medallion beingdisplayed, for example, gold, silver, or bronze coloring. The sides oredges of the block are also provided with a coating providing an opaquefinish, which may be painted or sprayed on.

When so constructed, the display device produces the illusion that themedallion or other object is embedded in the acrylic block and that ithas a thickness corresponding to the depth of the bore. Also themedallion, in the presence of ambient light, appears to have a halo 0rhighlight circling the front edge of the medallion. This halo effect isproduced by the chamfered inner edge of the bore, which picks up lightreflected from the opaque edges or sides of the block 10. The halo willhave the same hue or color as the color of the opaque coating applied tothe edges of the block. The cylindrical side of the bore behind themedallion picks up the light reflected from the opaque backing, and bymaking the backing matching in color to the medallion. gives themedallion the appearance of much greater thickness than it actually is.Because of the angle of viewing of the medallion through the frontsurface, the interior of the bore is not visible through the side of thebore but only through the flat bottom. Thus the face of the medallion isclearly displayed, but the edge as well as the spacer behind themedallion are not visible through the front surface of the block.

What is claimed is:

l. A display device for a threedimensional object such as a medallion orthe like comprising a body of transparent material having front and backsurfaces, the back surface having a bore extending into the body, thebore forming a recessed flat surface, the recessed surface being smoothto prevent light scattering, the body being in the form of a block withfront and back surfaces that are flat and parallel to each other, thebody having edge surfaces extending between the front and back surfaces,means forming an opaque covering of the edge surfaces, an opaque backingmember extending across the back surface and closing off the bore, aspacer secured to the backing member and projecting into the bore tohold the medallion in place against the recessed surface, the spacerbeing substantially smaller than the bore so as to be out of contactwith the body of transparent material.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the bore is chamfered adjacent therecessed flat surface.

1. A display device for a three-dimensional object such as a medallionor the like comprising a body of transparent material having front andback surfaces, the back surface having a bore extending into the body,the bore forming a recessed flat surface, the recessed surface beingsmooth to prevent light scattering, the body being in the form of ablock with front and back surfaces that are flat and parallel to eachother, the body having edge surfaces extending between the front andback surfaces, means forming an opaque covering of the edge surfaces, anopaque backing member extending across the back surface and closing offthe bore, a spacer secured to the backing member and projecting into thebore to hold the medallion in place against the recessed surface, thespacer being substantially smaller than the bore so as to be out ofcontact with the body of transparent material.
 2. The device of claim 1wherein the bore is chamfered adjacent the recessed flat surface.